The Minister of the Economy announced major changes for SME Packages at the “Futur Ready Days” event.
On March 13, the Luxembourg government, represented by Lex Delles, Minister of the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism, stepped up its support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and very small enterprises (VSEs) by introducing new digitalization aids. These measures, known as SME Packages, aim to boost the competitiveness of local businesses by facilitating their digital transition.
What are SME Packages?
SME Packages are support programs for Luxembourg SMEs and VSEs. They offer financial and technical assistance for integrating digital solutions within companies. The aim is to enable companies to modernize their processes, improve their online communication and optimize their internal management.
New SME Packages for 2025
With a view to stepping up support for SMEs, the Minister has announced a number of major changes to the way SME Packages work, and to the way they are awarded. From March 2025, the following changes will apply:
Until now, SME Packages were able to help SMEs finance projects costing a minimum of more than €6,500. This could exclude a number of companies whose digitalization projects did not represent such high minimum amounts. To make it more accessible to SMEs and VSEs, the minimum project amount has been lowered to €3,000 excluding VAT.
To qualify for these grants, companies will still have to meet the following conditions:
Hold a business license issued by the Ministry of the Economy.
Meet SME criteria in terms of headcount, annual sales and annual balance sheet.
There is no minimum period of existence for SMEs applying for SME Packages. If the application is made in the 1st year of existence, before the 1st balance sheet is drawn up, a business plan will be required to assess the exact needs of the company concerned.
From now on, a company wishing to benefit from the SME Packages subsidy can call on the supplier of its choice (provided that the latter can prove the existence of a company registered with the Luxembourg Trade and Companies Register for at least 3 years), not to mention any accreditation.
The House of Entrepreneurship and the Chambre des Métiers will continue to ensure that the services specified in the quotation are carried out.
The government has increased the intensity of financial assistance, which will no longer be capped at €5,000 excluding VAT. From now on, grants will cover up to 70% of eligible costs, for projects costing between €3,000 and €25,000 excluding VAT.
Companies will be able to subscribe to several packages, provided that one is completed before starting another. This will enable them to take a global approach to their digitalization and the challenges they face in improving their processes in this area.
- SME Packages – AI: This package helps companies take their first steps towards artificial intelligence, offering simple, easy-to-implement solutions for integrating AI into their processes.
- SME Packages – Cybersecurity: This package facilitates the implementation of cybersecurity-related technologies and procedures, strengthening SME protection against attacks.
What about SME Packages - Digital
What is the SME Package - Digital?
The SME Package – Digital is a financial aid scheme designed to help Luxembourg SMEs and VSEs adopt digital solutions. This scheme aims to support concrete digitalization projects such as :
- Creating or redesigning a professional website;
- Implementation of online management tools (CRM, ERP, etc.);
- Development of a digital marketing strategy (Google Ads, social networks, etc.);
- Automating internal processes to boost productivity.
Conditions of eligibility
To qualify, companies must meet the following conditions:
- Hold an establishment permit issued by the Ministry of the Economy;
- Have their head office in Luxembourg;
- Meet SME criteria in terms of headcount and sales.
In addition, it is essential to carry out a pre-analysis via the House of Entrepreneurship or the eHandwierk service (for craft businesses). This step enables you to define your company’s needs and draw up a coherent action plan.
Examples of bankable projects
Projects covered by SME Packages – Digital can include:
- Designing or improving a website with an online reservation system or e-commerce store;
- Implementation of customer relationship management (CRM) tools to improve prospecting and customer loyalty;
- Deployment of digital marketing solutions to accelerate company visibility.
How to get help
To apply for this assistance, the steps are as follows:
1- Pre-analysis: Carry out a preliminary audit via the House of Entrepreneurship or the eHandwierk service to identify your digitalization needs.
2- File preparation: With the help of an advisor, prepare your grant application file.
3- Validation and implementation: Once the grant has been approved, you can implement your project with a specialized service provider.
Conclusion
The new conditions of the SME Package – Digital offer a unique opportunity for Luxembourg SMEs and VSEs to accelerate their digital transformation with reinforced financial support. Don’t miss this opportunity to develop your online presence and optimize your internal processes.
